Sunday, August 21, 2011

It's such a warm day in Durban today, it feels like spring is on it's way. I just have to share the stunning bunch of proteas I bought yesterday, aren't they so beautiful. I haven't seen this particular colour combination before - soft green-tinged white petals with a deep aubergine feathered edge and pale pink inside. I am smitten.

Proteas have been a recurring theme and a source of inspiration in my artwork. They are truely unique, wonderfully diverse and really hardy. Here's a few examples of my work that has been inspired by these magnificent plants.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Here is the work I've done for the 'Inspiration' group exhibition which opened on Monday, 28 March at ArtSpace Durban gallery. It's on for another two weeks. 25 artists were invited to participate in the show. Each artist had to select an artwork from the Durban Art Gallery's archive and make a work inspired by that piece. I chose Ryan Arenson's White Tree, Black Rider, Coloured Chickens triptych. I really liked the motifs that Arenson chose for his oil paintings, particularly his Pierneef tree.

I've been fascinated with trees for a while now, for me they are like the watchers of the world. A tree I'm particularly obsessed with, is one I walk past every day on my way to work. I think it was struck by lightening a few years ago, and it has since died and shed it's bark. The sun has bleached the tree to these wonderful shades of grey and it is a favourite perch for birds in the area. I've photographed this tree many times and in different light, against the stark blue sky of a autumn day to the moody, overcast humid summer afternoon.

The 'dark rider' tile has an interesting 'woven' texture and is glazed in muted greys with a brilliant red glaze which has come out really intense, with a slight dimpling to the surface, a wonder of the firing process.

dark rider, 2011, glazed ceramic

dark rider, detail

dark rider, detail

The 'brown chickens' tile is quite playful, in that to me, the chickens appear to be dancing, scratching, pecking. I wanted to create movement with the placement of the chickens and the horizontal incised detail in the background. The muted brown glazes unify the composition.

brown chickens, 2011, glazed ceramic

brown chickens, detail

brown chickens, detail

I've really enjoyed working on these tiles and this has a new technique for me: the incised-line drawing into clay. Working with representational motifs is something I haven't done in a long time. I'm planning a whole series of pieces, where I will work in this manner.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The KZNSA has, this week, launched the opening of the new Park Contemporary. This new space will showcase the works of professional artists in KZN. It aims to function as an "art agency" that will serve artists, supporters of art and collectors. The launch features various artist's work including Peter Rippon, Bronwen Vaughn-Evans, Coral Spencer Domijan, Clive Sithole, John Roome, Grace Kotze and me.

Here's some photos of the works what you can expect to see:

another beautiful work by Bronwen Vaughn-Evans

Clive Sithole's ceramic work

Detail of Coral Spencer Domijan's painting

Peter Rippon's 'Moth' oil painting

The artwork I submitted is an abbreviated version of 'Schema' which was included in my last show, 'Imprint' in November 2009. These are the works that were not sold then, there was originally 16 pieces. I think they still work well as a series of 10. These are made in porcelain fired to 1200 degree celcius and then glazed. Here's some images of my work you can see at the KZNSA Gallery.